Articles Posted in Domestic Violence

The Broward County Bar Association recently released a detailed analysis offering some insight into why local domestic violence cases have surged.

Broward domestic violence defense attorneys know that a big part of it has to do with the economy. It’s practically a science – meteorologists can tell from barometric pressure readings whether it’s going to be a good weather day or a bad one. Defense attorneys know that when the economy begins to tank, domestic violence cases increase.

Throughout the U.S., calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline have climbed by about 13 percent from 2007 to 2009. In Florida, domestic violence centers reported a 40 percent increase in demand for services from late 2008 to late 2009. In the last year, Broward County domestic violence centers have reported an eye-popping 43 percent increase in calls, while those in Palm Beach County have reported an uptick of 27 percent.

What does the economy have to do with it? Consider first that South Florida has been hit especially hard by the economic crisis. Even though politicians in Washington continue to espouse the fact that we’re now technically in a recovery, a lot of people here are still struggling with impending foreclosures, unemployment or underemployment, reduced wages and overall economic insecurity. When people are on edge or depressed, that alone can lead to “taking it out on” those closes to you. It can also lead to substance abuse, which is another factor in domestic violence allegations.

Something else that is not often discussed with regard to domestic violence allegations in tough economic times is the fact that police agencies are often overworked and understaffed. Officers are being forced to take on more cases without working any additional hours, as local, state and federal budget cuts put restrictions on overtime and the hiring. And, of course, a similar strain on resources exists in the court system.

Officers conduct a cursory overview of the facts with a few questions – and that’s it. But almost always in domestic violence cases, someone is going to jail. Even if you are charged with a misdemeanor, as is the case with most domestic violence arrests, that mark is going to remain on your permanent record forever, unless your attorney can convince the state attorney’s office to drop or reduce the charges or if you are exonerated by a judge or jury.

This is why it’s critical to hire an experienced domestic violence attorney because this kind of a conviction – even if you plead no contest – will follow you as you try to apply for a job, or even keep the one you have. The current economic state of this country makes this an even more pressing issue.

Some of the strategies that a criminal defense lawyer in your case might employ include:
–Showing a potential monetary or other benefit that the accuser stands to gain with your conviction;
–Calling witnesses to testify that the person accused has a reputation for being non-violent and peaceful;
–Calling witnesses to testify that the accuser has a history of not being truthful;
–Showing that the accuser may be an unreliable witness due to the abuse of drugs or alcohol;
–Showing that the actions of the accused were taken either in self-defense or in order to protect children from the acts of the accuser.
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A report under the news category, “Flori-Duh” mocked a Fort Lauderdale man who had been arrested on charges of domestic violence battery after reportedly covering a woman with tomato sauce and shaving cream.

However, Fort Lauderdale domestic violence defense lawyers know that in all seriousness, the charges are nothing to laugh about.

The news report details the account of a domestic violence dispute that quickly escalated into a situation in which the 26-year-old man allegedly doused the woman in cream and sauce. The judge presiding over the situation said he thought he had heard just about everything: domestic violence by tuna can, pizza, sandwiches and meatballs. These are the stuff of legendary lunchroom food fights, but in the context of a domestic violence case, the repercussions are far steeper than a trip to the principal’s office. (By the way, a high school food fight in Arizona recently resulted in felony battery on a teacher charges for one of the teens involved, so the use of food in an action against someone else doesn’t de-criminalize the act.)

Florida statute 784.011 defines assault as an intentional and unlawful threat by word or act to do violence upon another person accompanied by the ability to carry out that threat. Battery, as defined in Florida statute 784.03, is the act of intentionally touching or striking another person against the will of that person.

Florida Statute 741.28 defines domestic violence as ANY assault, battery, sexual assault or battery, stalking, false imprisonment, kidnapping “or any other criminal offense” that results in physical injury or death of a household or family member by another household or family member.

These can be charged as either felonies or misdemeanors, depending on the severity of the case and the criminal background of the defendant, which mean a person could potentially be sentenced to years behind bars if convicted.

The whole phenomenon of poking fun at cases of domestic violence involving food or other weird objects was addressed recently by an editorial in a Nebraska newspaper, where a husband had been arrested there for assaulting his wife with a sandwich. The reporter who covered the story had used tongue-in-cheek phrasing and noted the “several pieces of lunch meat found on the carpet,” as well as the mayonnaise stains on the victim’s shirt. The husband was charged with a misdemeanor, and the story was subsequently picked up by national news outlets, including Fox News, the New York Daily News, CBS News and others.

Online commentators had even more fun with the story, asking if the sandwich was a “club sandwich” and whether, if the sandwich had been ham and the woman a Muslim, if it would have been prosecuted as a hate crime.

The editorial chided these remarks, as well as the “news” reports. But, of course, this is unlikely to have much effect on the media, or on those who find humor in the situation, particularly when someone isn’t seriously hurt.

What’s important for potential clients to understand is that even if the circumstances surrounding your arrest become fodder for laughs, you need to take it seriously and hire a criminal defense lawyer with experience.
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A Boynton Beach woman is facing criminal charges after police say she beat her young son with a belt after he was reported at school for bad behavior.

Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyers know that 50 years ago – and even today in certain cultures – such conduct would barely cause a raised eyebrow, let alone criminal charges. In fact, this was historically seen as a form of good parenting.

In fact, in 19 states in this country – including Florida – corporal punishment is not only allowable, it is sanctioned and carried out by school administrators. The boards used to paddle children are about 5 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick. They are often hand-made, sometimes by students themselves in wood shop.

A recent report by ABC News indicated that about 3,600 students were spanked by school officials in Florida last year. (That’s much lower than in states like Georgia and Florida, which on average spank more than 28,000 kids annually.)

But times have changed dramatically, and criminal laws are always evolving.

Even though Florida lawmakers have been working to ban corporal discipline in Florida schools, the measure has so far been unsuccessful. Most Florida schools have opted out of the practice, but clearly not all of them.

And yet, it appears we use a different measuring stick when it comes to the actions of parents seeking to discipline their children.

Florida Statute 827.03 defines child abuse as the intentional infliction of physical or mental injury on a child or an intentional act that could reasonably be expected to result in physical or mental injury on a child or the active encouragement of another person to inflict physical or mental injury on a child.

“Physical injury” is a vague term, and fails to differentiate from severe welts and bruising to hand prints and scratches.

This is not to say that there are not parents who take it too far. But in a state where we allow school officials to paddle children, the line often seems unclear.

In this case, the 34-year-old mother was upset with her son, age 5, for bringing home a bad conduct report. Essentially, these are issued when a child acts up in class. She then reportedly took her into his room and whipped him with a belt. The noise woke the boy’s father, who asked the mother to stop.

Somehow, an investigator with the Florida Department of Children and Families learned of the incident and started an investigation. The boy had a single vertical mark across the side of his back, as well as several bruises. The boy said that his mother disciplined him and his sister with a belt when they misbehave.

They also have a younger brother, age 1. There is no indication that the infant has been subjected to any physical harm by the mother.
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When it comes to domestic violence arrests in Florida, there is no one-size-fits all charge.

The fact is, prosecutors have a host of varying options to choose from when it comes to charging, and it’s all based on the specific evidence available in each individual case.

This is where having a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney who specializes in domestic violence cases becomes especially important. It’s one thing to generally know the potential defenses in a criminal case, but it’s another to be well-familiarized with the ins-and-outs of a specific area of law.

Choosing a defense attorney who is armed with this knowledge can be critical to ensuring the best possible outcome based on your circumstances.

This case involved a 40-year-old West Palm Beach man and his 38-year-old live-in girlfriend of four months. Investigators arrested the suspect on charges of domestic battery by strangulation, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, criminal mischief and resisting police officers with violence.

Authorities were reportedly alerted to the case by hospital staff, who were treating the woman days after the alleged attack. She told investigators she hadn’t sought treatment earlier because she feared the legal consequences her boyfriend might face.

Investigators say that the man had been consuming alcohol throughout the day, and when evening fell, he began to argue with his girlfriend. She then reportedly went outside and he followed her. At this point, she contends he began hitting her in the back of the neck with his fists.

The woman was reportedly able to get away and went back inside to get her phone, purse and keys from a bedroom. The defendant then allegedly closed the door behind him, hit the woman on both ears with the palms of his hands. She claims he also took her phone and smashed it on the ground.

She said he then grabbed her by the neck, and opened a pocket knife, which he held to her neck, while saying that he intended to kill her and bury her in the backyard.

Again, she was able to break away and sought shelter with a neighbor.

Domestic violence by strangulation is defined in Florida Statute 784.041(2)(a), which states that the defendant must have knowingly and with intention and against the other person’s will “impede normal breathing or strangulation or circulation of the blood” to either a family member or a person living in the same house or to someone he or she is dating. This act must be such that it creates the risk of serious bodily harm by applying pressure to either the neck or throat or by blocking the mouth or nose of the other person.

This is a third-degree felony charge, which means it’s punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

In this case, it’s not clear what evidence police have to prove that this charge applies. At no point did the report say that the alleged victim was unable to breathe. Furthermore, the delay in reporting the case has more than likely resulted in the disintegration of evidence that would have been vital to the prosecution’s case.

Nonetheless, the seriousness of these allegations warrants the help of an attorney with experience in defending domestic violence cases.
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So often when we talk about domestic violence in the criminal sense, we picture a man lashing out at a woman with whom he’s romantically involved.

But our Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyers know that under the actual definition of the law, there are many other scenarios that qualify.

Such was the incident between a brother and sister who quarreled over the boy’s annoyance of his older sister.

According to the Sun Sentinel, the 18-year-old sister was watching a movie with her cousin. Her brother charged into the room with a laundry basket on his head, in a clear attempt to annoy the two women. When the sister yelled at him to leave the room, the 12-year-old boy refused.

This is where the argument escalated.

Police say the 18-year-old tackled her younger brother to the ground and then kicked him in the head while he was on the floor and scratched his back. At some point during the altercation, police say the woman grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed her younger brother in the shoulder.

At that point, an older brother stepped in, grabbed the boy and dragged him to a bedroom, locking the door behind them.

However, the sister then kicked the door in. The boy grabbed a machete that was in the room in an effort to defend himself. It’s unclear whether the woman sustained any injuries as a result.

At that point, someone in the house contacted police.

Investigators at the scene took the knife and machete as evidence and photographed the damage to the door, as well as the welts and bruises that were forming on the boy’s body.

The woman later told police that she had only grabbed the knife in an effort to defend herself. She was nonetheless booked on charges of aggravated assault and child abuse.

These are two very serious charges, and whether this woman is convicted will depend a great deal on a number of factors, including:

–The statements made by witnesses about who was the aggressor in the situation;
–How the two involved parties’ statements conflict with the witness statements;
–The extend of the injuries to each party;
–The size of the two individuals involved;
–Is the boy’s statement consistent with the one he gave at the time of arrest.

Each of these will be weighed by the defense attorney to determine the best course of action.

What may not help this woman’s case is that she was arrested in 2008 for aggravated assault. It’s not clear, however, whether she was convicted.

Aggravated battery, as defined in Florida Statute 784.045 is when a person knowingly or intentionally causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement or uses a deadly weapon. This is a second-degree felony, which is punishable by a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Child abuse is an equally serious offense, as defined in Florida Statute 827.03. It is essentially defined as the intentional infliction of physical or mental injury upon a child. It can be charged as either a second or third degree felony, depending on the extend of the child’s injuries and the intention of the alleged aggressor. As a third-degree felony, it would be punishable by a maximum of five years in prison.

The court may also take into consideration the age of the parties involved. Although the aggressor is technically an adult, she is not a great deal older than the alleged victim. There is no legal provision for this, but it is something the court may weigh.
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The headlines detailing a physical argument between a boyfriend and girlfriend at a local casino blared the words, “mutual combat.”

Indeed, Fort Lauderdale domestic violence attorneys noted the pair both had apparent bruises in their mug shots – he with a cut under his eye, and she with a bruise to her forehead.

But in terms of domestic violence law, is there such a thing as a “mutual combat” defense?

Yes, and no.

You wouldn’t actually call it “mutual combat.” Instead, you would explain it as self-defense during a mutual struggle.

Self defense is a valid defense to a domestic violence charge, but your defense attorney must convincingly make a case to the judge, based on available evidence. This is before the case would ever go to trial. In instances of mutual struggle, your defense attorney may be able to persuade prosecutors not to formally file criminal charges, based on the fact that both parties were equally aggressive toward one another.

Domestic violence is defined in Florida Statute 741.28 as the assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, sexual battery, sexual assault, false imprisonment or kidnapping that results in physical injury or death of a family or household member by another family or household member.

In this case, the Sun Sentinel reports that the pair had spent the evening in Hollywood at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. As they were preparing to leave, there was a disagreement about who would do the actual driving back to their shared residence.

A pint glass was reportedly thrown by the woman at the man. She missed. Police were called. But the argument had reportedly escalated by the time officers arrived. Investigators say the woman bit her boyfriend’s thumb, leaving teeth mark imprints.

The man told officers he tried to quash the violence, but witnesses said he put his girlfriend in a headlock and rammed her head into a nearby car.

The two 28-year-olds were arrested, both charged with battery domestic violence. The woman is additionally facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.

They were booked with bonds set at $10,000 and $11,000.

Generally speaking, the law says you are allowed to use force against someone if you or someone else is about to be injured by that person.

The greatest problem with this defense is that you are, in essence, admitting to the court that you did commit an assault and/or battery. This means you are essentially proving the prosecutor’s case. This means in order for it to be effective, you have to prove that the other party was the aggressor and that you feared yourself in danger of harm. If the jury or judge does not believe you, this would essentially be an automatic conviction.

They key in these cases is being able to express what happened in an eloquent, convincing way. This is where having an experienced attorney on your side becomes critical.
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A domestic violence arrest can have far-reaching consequences, as former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Chad Johnson has recently learned.

Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyers understand the situation dominoed for the professional football player after an argument with his wife earlier this month.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, he could be facing a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, though it will be the state attorney’s office that will decide whether to formally file charges.

Apparently, the pair were arguing because Johnson’s wife found a receipt for condoms in his vehicle. Broward police officials say that the verbal argument escalated, and that Johnson reportedly leaned over to his wife and head-butted her, causing her to suffer a three-inch gash on her forehead.

She reportedly fled to the home of a neighbor, who called 911. Interestingly, according to the New York Daily News, the neighbor requested that officers “keep it quiet” and “not to make a big scene,” as it involved a high-profile individual. Of course, requests like this almost always go unheeded.

The 34-year-old player was charged with simply battery domestic violence.

Once word made it to the media, the news went national – and the repercussions began. He at first released a statement saying that it was his wife who had head-butted him, and that he drove away to allow her to calm down.

However, she quickly refuted that and subsequently filed for divorce. Then, VH1 dropped a reality show about the pair, which was slated to debut in September. Then, the Miami Dolphins, who had just signed him for $925,000 a year, terminated his contract.

Though he has not been arrested since he began playing the sport professionally in 2001, he was arrested in college in connection with a domestic dispute.

This is an extreme example of how allegations can quickly affect almost every aspect of your life. Most of us don’t have pending reality shows or NFL contracts – but we do have jobs and children and family relationships that can all be damaged or even severed simply by the allegation. That’s why having an experienced lawyer on your side is so critical in these cases. It’s not just about your reputation, it’s about your freedom and your future.

This case, like so many other Fort Lauderdale domestic violence cases, hinges largely on one person’s word against another person’s word.

Simple battery is considered a first-degree misdemeanor under Florida law, which means it’s punishable by up to 1 year in jail, 1 year of probation and a $1,000 fine. The basic definition is that you intentionally touched or struck someone else against their will or that you intentionally caused bodily harm to another person. It can be something as minor as grabbing someone’s arm. It’s not necessary to the prosecution that the individual actually be injured, though it will bolster the case if the alleged victim does show physical signs of injury.

With domestic violence battery, which is defined as any battery committed against a spouse, family member, household member or someone with home you share a biological child, you face additional penalties. These include a mandatory minimum of five days in jail, completion of a 29-week batterers’ intervention program and you will be ineligible to have the arrest ever expunged or sealed.
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The arrest of a Florida corrections officer on charges that he battered his girlfriend, once again raises the issue of how an arrest – let alone a conviction – can mar a person’s reputation or destroy a career.

Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorneys understand that this fact is one reason why domestic violence victims don’t come forward. However, it’s equally the case that spouses of those in law enforcement know how much such an allegation can hurt, and often use it as a form of revenge.

Because responding officers frequently feel compelled to take some form of action and they have little to go on except one person’s word against another person’s, domestic violence arrests are often made without a great deal of evidence. Police agencies want to relieve themselves of any liability if something more serious does occur later on, and therefore, someone is most likely going to jail.

Unfortunately, even if an alleged victim later tries to recant their story, a case can sometimes still move forward.

At the very least, a domestic violence arrest is going to put a law enforcement professional’s career on hold. At worst, it can end it. Having an experienced and aggressive defense lawyer is your best bet for a more favorable outcome.

False allegations most typically arise in situations where the couple is embroiled in a break-up or a situation of infidelity. Some men falsely accused of domestic violence may choose not to fight back because they feel it may be somehow deserved due to the way a relationship is ending. This is a mistake, however. Even being a jerk doesn’t make you a criminal, and a conviction on a charge of domestic violence is going to haunt you for the rest of your life – long after you’ve both moved on from one another.

For those in law enforcement or the military, it can mean the end of a career. For anyone convicted, it can me a revocation of their right to own firearms.

Other false allegations may stem from a situation of self-defense. For example, the female half may attack her boyfriend or husband, who then uses reasonable force to fend her off or protect himself. Police may use that as probable cause to arrest the husband. Medical reports, witness statements, physical evidence at the scene and peripheral circumstantial evidence can sometimes be used to combat allegations in these scenarios.

Another element that may work in your favor could be the consumption of alcohol by the alleged victim. It’s not always an effective defense, but there may be some cases in which it can be proven that an alleged victim’s testimony can’t be considered reliable, based on his or her consumption of alcohol or other substances at the time of the incident.

In the recent case of the Florida corrections officer’s arrest, the pair were reportedly staying at a hotel when they became engaged in a verbal argument. The girlfriend left the room and he later told deputies that he followed her.

The pair continued their argument outside. Witnesses said that when the victim attempted to walk away, the corrections officer reportedly yanked her arm to pull her back toward him. This allegedly caused bruising to her arm. She subsequently was able to walk away.

Nearby witnesses contacted police, who arrested the corrections officer on charges of domestic violence battery, as defined in FL Statute 741.28.
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A 21-year-old woman marked her milestone birthday with an arrest on charges of domestic violence against her mother, according to The Sun-Sentinel.

West Palm Beach defense lawyers understand that in fact, this incident is one of a growing number of domestic violence incidents throughout Palm Beach County, according to News Channel 5.

The details of this particular incident aren’t exactly clear, but from what we can glean from various media reports, the 21-year-old was celebrating her birthday when she reportedly became involved in an altercation with her mother. That fight at some point turned physical.

Police and emergency fire officials were called to the family’s residence around 2 a.m., where they found the defendant reportedly screaming and covered with blood. There was even blood smeared across the front door. Officers reported that as they tried to take her into custody, she punched and kicked at them, and subsequently cursed and spat at fire officials who attempted to treat her. They ultimately covered her face with a shield in an effort to protect them from her saliva and blood.

The woman, who is employed as a caregiver for an autistic child, said she does not remember the incident as described to her.

She was ordered held on $6,500 bond.

FL Statute 741.28 defines domestic violence as any form of assault or battery or stalking or kidnapping or sex offense that results in injury or death of one family or household member against another.

Often when we think of domestic violence offenses, we think of husbands beating their wives. However, the law is actually quite broad in its interpretation. It could mean a child against a parent – even if they aren’t living together – or it could mean girlfriends against boyfriends or it could mean a separated couple who has a child together.

Penalties are going to vary, depending on the specific details of the incident and the severity of the injuries. In this particular case, the woman is facing charges of domestic violence, as well as resisting an officer with violence.

Other recent domestic violence incidents in Palm Beach County include a fatal shooting earlier in June and a woman who was set on fire at a Boynton Beach gas station.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a 10 percent increase in domestic violence calls over the last year. And when we look at victims of domestic violence who have sought shelter with the YWCA, there were about 445 between July 2009 and July 2010. But then last year, that figure jumped to 555.

Domestic violence advocates are blaming the economy. The stresses that come from being out-of-work can lead people to turn to drug and alcohol abuse, which can in turn lead to violence. In other cases, you have people who are simply not good at coping with the burdens that result from unemployment or underemployment, and they end up lashing out at those closest to them.

Whatever the reasons behind your arrest, contact an attorney with a proven record of success in defending domestic violence cases.
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A staffer for Florida Senator Marco Rubio was recently arrested and charged with a domestic violence incident in Fort Myers, leading to the man quitting his job, the Associated Press reports.

This incident brings up some key points for people who find themselves dealing with a Fort Lauderdale domestic violence incident. Fighting at home can be caused by excessive use of alcohol or abuse of drugs and can create major problems for both the aggressor an the victim.

Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorneys recognize that while an arrest can be a difficult thing to defend when dealing with domestic violence, other aspects of this situation can be a problem as well.

What this refers to is a restraining order. Unfortunately, these are somewhat easy to obtain and can put a person labeled as an “aggressor” in these types of cases through the ringer. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office makes it clear that a restraining order is as easy to going to the courthouse with the proper paperwork between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

A temporary protective order is usually granted first. All that takes is for a person to convince a judge they are in some type of danger. These orders are temporary, but can cause major distractions while active. For couples who live together and have children together, these can cause parents to not be able to see their children or spouses or have to live somewhere else while the order is in place.

A violation of an order can be punished as a criminal offense, even if there is no initial criminal report taken by police officers or sheriff’s deputies. Florida Statutes 741.31, which governs domestic violence situations, tells residents how to obtain an injunction for protection against domestic violence.

But a temporary order is designed to be just that — temporary. Once that is ordered by a judge, the person it is against receives a copy and has the right to a hearing to contest it. It is strongly advised that this person gets legal representation.

Requesting a hearing is well within a person’s rights and he or she should ensure that an experienced Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer is by his or her side at this type of hearing. A permanent order against a person can lead to him or her being shut out of their own home or being banned from seeing family members. A slip-up, even if unintentional, can lead to an arrest. It can be a slippery slope.

In the incident in Fort Myers, the regional director for Rubio in Southwest Florida resigned after initially being placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Deputies went to the couple’s apartment after the man’s wife called 911 and then hung up. When they arrived, they found the woman’s elbow was swollen and bloody and she was visibly upset.

She told deputies her husband pushed her, causing her to fall on top of a carpet in the garage. He then allegedly rolled her into the carpet and kicked and punched it with her inside. She said she unrolled herself and confronted him. The man allegedly then pushed her against the wall, causing the elbow injury.

Deputies arrested the man at a nearby hotel and charged him with domestic violence battery, despite his wife not wishing to press charges and refusing to get medical treatment. The man’s attorney told the media the allegations are false and that the man and a witness whom she would not name can contradict the police report.
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